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Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET)

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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#921 » by Dogen » Thu Jan 8, 2026 2:39 pm

Fierce1 wrote:Celtics can get Zubac for Hauser and Tillman, plus 2 1st round picks.
Use the KP TPE to acquire Zubac.

As long as the Celtics stay at 207m in total salaries, that's still the 1st apron.


It can be argued that Hauser, being under a longer, more affordable contract, is more valuable to keep than the expiring Simons, but I prefer this deal too. Simons has shown more value to the team right now, and his presence with Zubac and a healthy Tatum could really solidify the Celtics into a top contender.

The Celtics need another player to get back to 14 in this scenario though. Technically, they could get back (the expiring) Chris Paul in this deal and still remain in first apron, saving 7.8M. I'd prefer to include Boucher over Tillman, as X has been reported as a great presence even though not playing much, but then Paul cannot be included without moving into second apron.

What do you think about Paul? Too much potential drama? I'm conflicted, as he could be a solid mentor for Pritchard (who may not need it) and can stay ready play when needed, a la Blake Griffin a few years ago.

Zubac/Tatum/Brown/White/Pritchard
Queta/Walsh/Hugo/Simons/Paul
Garza/Minott/Boucher/Scheierman

That's a great starting unit and solid bench. I'm not so happy to give up 2 firsts, but if they are spread out, say, 2027 and 2030, it seems worthwhile to get a win now piece.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#922 » by ryan in Maine » Thu Jan 8, 2026 2:44 pm

Trading Simons for Zubac makes the Clippers better and the Celtics worse. I really don't understand the fascination with Zubac.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#923 » by GoCeltics123 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 2:57 pm

ryan in Maine wrote:Trading Simons for Zubac makes the Clippers better and the Celtics worse. I really don't understand the fascination with Zubac.

It appears (if Scal is right) that Brad Stevens doesn't agree with you
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#924 » by BleedGreen1989 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 2:57 pm

Justin33 wrote:Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly


I love Zubac but am I taking crazy pills? Why are we so desperate to chase an upgrade over Queta?

He’s been excellent this year.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#925 » by tfribs45 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:01 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:Wow if the Scal rumors is true, Brad must REALLY want Zubac. Simons+Minott+2 firsts for him means Brad doesn't want to be outbid by the Pacers


I like it, C's have to go all in throughout the J's career.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#926 » by ryan in Maine » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:01 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:
ryan in Maine wrote:Trading Simons for Zubac makes the Clippers better and the Celtics worse. I really don't understand the fascination with Zubac.

It appears (if Scal is right) that Brad Stevens doesn't agree with you

I don't believe for a second that Stevens or Mazzulla want Zubac.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#927 » by GoCeltics123 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:02 pm

BleedGreen1989 wrote:
Justin33 wrote:Just a little tid bit Scal on pregame said the Zubak talk is real and said it would be Simmons 2 first and a young wing but wouldn't name him, It actually got quite heated with Mike Holly


I love Zubac but am I taking crazy pills? Why are we so desperate to chase an upgrade over Queta?

He’s been excellent this year.

Because Brad knows that we have one playable center in the playoffs, and that Zubac provides the interior defense and rebounding this team lost when Kornet left.

And Zubac provides the ability to take advantage of switches on defense, which as we saw last night, Queta sadly can't really do yet
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#928 » by GoCeltics123 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:03 pm

ryan in Maine wrote:
GoCeltics123 wrote:
ryan in Maine wrote:Trading Simons for Zubac makes the Clippers better and the Celtics worse. I really don't understand the fascination with Zubac.

It appears (if Scal is right) that Brad Stevens doesn't agree with you

I don't believe for a second that Stevens or Mazzulla want Zubac.

Read on Twitter


I've got bad news
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#929 » by ryan in Maine » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:15 pm

GoCeltics123 wrote:
ryan in Maine wrote:
GoCeltics123 wrote:It appears (if Scal is right) that Brad Stevens doesn't agree with you

I don't believe for a second that Stevens or Mazzulla want Zubac.

Read on Twitter


I've got bad news

Has HoopsHype broken a lot of Celtics trades or something
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#930 » by Celts17Pride » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:23 pm

Celtics are not going anywhere in the playoffs without adding another quality center, with or without Tatum. Brad Stevens know this and it's probably his #1 priority. In the playoffs Duran/Stewart (Det) and Robinson/Towns (NY) would eat Luka Garza alive. I like Garza and he has had a real solid year but he is an emergency 3rd center in the playoffs.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#931 » by ryan in Maine » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:29 pm

I went to HoopsHype to check on that Simons + Minott + two first round picks for Zubac rumor and I found an interesting detail. At the same time they were posting that story they were posting another one lol —
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I guess LA lowered their asking price for their starting center.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#932 » by GoCeltics123 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:30 pm

Celts17Pride wrote:Celtics are not going anywhere in the playoffs without adding another quality center, with or without Tatum. Brad Stevens know this and it's probably his #1 priority. In the playoffs Duran/Stewart (Det) and Robinson/Towns (NY) would eat Luka Garza alive. I like Garza and he has add a real solid year but he is an emergency 3rd center in the playoffs.

The Pistons' centers beat frontcourts with metal bats the whole game. We need a big who can handle that lol

And can play defense themselves
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#933 » by GoCeltics123 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:32 pm

ryan in Maine wrote:I went to HoopsHype to check on that Simons + Minott + two first round picks for Zubac rumor and I found an interesting detail. At the same time they were posting that story they were posting another one lol —
Image

I guess LA lowered their asking price for their starting center.

If you read the whole article, it was saying that we have not been willing to trade a first to dump Simons to get under the tax only. And that was also reported back in October.

Like I'm sorry dude, but we've seen this before with Brad. They only traded Jrue for Simons because Simons was expiring. They tried to trade Simons as soon as they got him last offseason.

Josh Richardson did the same thing here. Brad is the master of selling high. Zubac is what we need and he knows it. Simons is playing awesome, but Brad isn't moved by one or two good weeks
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#934 » by flaco » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:36 pm

Image


The Hawks are reportedly interested in AD. The Mavs desperately need a ball handler. Simons provides secondary ball handling allowing Flagg to keep developing his Point Forward skills. I would assume Okongwu would become expendable in a potential AD trade. Feel free to add pick(s) if you deem it necessary.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#935 » by GoCeltics123 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 3:56 pm

Read on Twitter


Here's video of what Scal said
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#936 » by Larry_Russell » Thu Jan 8, 2026 4:08 pm

Celts17Pride wrote:If Brad Stevens found a way to add Zubac (Simons would be leaving) and then to turn around and add Dosunmu to replace Simons, I would be very happy.



**** yes!@!@


Simons, 1st and Tillman to Clippers

Derrick Jones Jr and a boston 2nd to Bulls

Zubac and Ayo to the Celtics


Pritchard/Ayo
White/Hugo
Brown/Hauser
Walsh/Minott (Tatum)
Zubac/Queta
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#937 » by fallguy » Thu Jan 8, 2026 4:22 pm

Zubac has two more years at reasonable money ($20M) but two first rounders plus one of the wings is a heavy price.

So much of this depends on what they think they're going to get from JT.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#938 » by Hal14 » Thu Jan 8, 2026 4:43 pm

Celts17Pride wrote:Celtics are not going anywhere in the playoffs without adding another quality center, with or without Tatum. Brad Stevens know this and it's probably his #1 priority. In the playoffs Duran/Stewart (Det) and Robinson/Towns (NY) would eat Luka Garza alive. I like Garza and he has had a real solid year but he is an emergency 3rd center in the playoffs.

That's what people used to say about Kornet and Queta.
Nothing wrong with having a different opinion - as long as it's done respectfully. It'd be lame if we all agreed on everything :)
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#939 » by Celts17Pride » Thu Jan 8, 2026 4:44 pm

Hal14 wrote:
Celts17Pride wrote:Celtics are not going anywhere in the playoffs without adding another quality center, with or without Tatum. Brad Stevens know this and it's probably his #1 priority. In the playoffs Duran/Stewart (Det) and Robinson/Towns (NY) would eat Luka Garza alive. I like Garza and he has had a real solid year but he is an emergency 3rd center in the playoffs.

That's what people used to say about Kornet and Queta.

You seriously can't believe Queta and Garza rotation is going to be acceptable in the playoffs. Come on now. Brad Stevens doesn't believe that.
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Re: Free Agent/Trade/Waiver Thread, 2025-26, pt 3 – (Trade Deadline = Thurs, Feb. 5, 3pm, ET) 

Post#940 » by Larry_Russell » Thu Jan 8, 2026 4:50 pm

Celts17Pride wrote:Celtics are not going anywhere in the playoffs without adding another quality center, with or without Tatum. Brad Stevens know this and it's probably his #1 priority. In the playoffs Duran/Stewart (Det) and Robinson/Towns (NY) would eat Luka Garza alive. I like Garza and he has had a real solid year but he is an emergency 3rd center in the playoffs.



And queta is a decent in season Center who will get massively exposed in the playoffs.

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